Flax and equipment manufacturing: what are the prospects for cooperation between the Vitebsk and Smolensk regions

Interregional cooperation between the Vitebsk and Smolensk regions, which helps to effectively overcome economic sanctions, as well as prospects for strengthening such interaction were discussed at a meeting of the Commission of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia on Energy, which took place in Vitebsk, according to a BELTA correspondent.

Interaction between the border regions of Belarus and Russia has increased significantly over 2023. Diversification of sales markets for enterprises of the Vitebsk region has become one of the successful solutions for supporting the economy. Vitebsk region cooperates with all regions of Russia, and strong economic and cultural ties have already been established with the border regions.

"In 2023, the growth of trade turnover and exports between the Vitebsk and Smolensk regions was maintained. The share of the Smolensk region in the export of goods from Vitebsk region to Russia annually is about 10%, second only to supplies to Moscow and the Moscow region," said the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina.

She added that enterprises of the northern region of Belarus are interested in establishing their representative offices in the Smolensk region. "More than 300 leading enterprises of the Vitebsk region have registered their branches in the cities of the Smolensk region," noted the Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. She added that the Smolensk region serves as a kind of distribution center, from which goods from the Belarusian Dvina region are supplied to dozens of regions of Russia.

Anzhelika Nikitina emphasized that minimizing logistics costs plays a crucial role in supplies to the border region of Russia. More than 400 types of consumer goods and industrial goods are supplied here. Sales of machine tools, finished rolled metal, and special equipment have increased by almost 2.5 times. Imports from the Smolensk region are mainly represented by goods produced in other regions of Russia. These include fish, wheat, polyamides, polymers, knitted fabric, copper wire, and motor vehicles. The two regions have established strong ties and are implementing joint projects in the fields of education, culture, and tourism. Mutually beneficial interregional cooperation can be established in the flax industry, water treatment equipment production, construction, and other areas.

Alexey Kushnarenko, Chairman of the Energy Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union of Belarus and Russia, added that specialists from the Vitebsk region are also assisting in the construction of gas distribution networks in the Smolensk